Sand classifying apparatus



Dec. 8, 1953 L. F. BUSH 2,661,839

SAND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Le/ E Bash,

% BYW 4 TTORNEK Dec. 8, 1953 L. F. BUSH 2,661,839

SAND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS I I Filed Feb. 6, 1950 I N V EN TOR. L era E 50.56,

Dec. 8, 1953 L. F. BUSH SAND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Fil ed Feb. 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WIN!" ATTaQ/VEY.

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNI TE D STATES PATENT O FFl-CE SAND GLASSIFYIN G APPARATUS "Leroy F. Bush, j Edwardsville, Kans. Application February 6, 1950,-S.erial No.:142,6 98

'5'Claims. 'l

The present invention relates to commercial S nd cleaning or washing and classifying equipment, and the primary object in view is to devise an improved form of apparatus designed to carry out the required operation of cleaning and classifying sand material, as received from dredging apparatus, in .a more efficient manner. and betteradapted for commercial purposes, and- V ingasection taken on the line 4-4 of El (on an enlarged scale) in conformity .with the practice usually pr.evail.-'

ing in ,plants of sizable producing capacity. I

It is also .an object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character which is of .a more economical construction, and havin the. parts thereof more accessible for maintenance or repair, as well .aslsuch.manualrregulation or control .asis required ,for its normal operation.

.In general, it issought to devisean improved construction and arrangement of apparatus for conducting, under dredge-pumping pressure, ,a flowof dredge material, having a sand .and gravel content, .to the washing and classifying apparatus-which is comprised of multiple units as required .for properly grading the sand and gravel output, together with an improved valve arrangement and construction whereby the operation of the flow and discharge of the material is effectively controlled .for maintaining .a. continuous and uniform output ,of the respective grades or classifications of thesand material.

'Itiis also sought to provide .a constructionof this character in which the separation of the material in to the .main grades of relativelyfine sand material .i-s supplemented by .a subsequent separating .processin which the coarser gravel inradients of {the main flow are retrieved there- K from before discharge into the .final waste flow from the apparatus.

With the foregoing eneral objects in view, as. well as various minor objects as wellappear in the, course of the detail specification, the invention will now .be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one .preferred'form of construction which has been found to be practical and efficient for the embodiment of the proposed-improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth-and claimed.

In thedrawings- Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating an apparatus arranged and constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan 'view representing asectionta'kenon "the line 3-3 -ofFigure 1 (all r 337,446, dated December/21, 1943. 15

' having-the usual sand and gravel ingredient I arm or"lever"36. The series of rocker arms or 12 the supporting framework structure omitted); Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view, repr Figure 5 is a-detail sectional view, as ind by the section line 5-5 in :Figure 3; :and V Figure 6 is :a sectional view, representing tion ,following the section line 6-6 sho Figure l. v

The present invention and application we improvements in the :type of apparatus; trated and described .in my prior Patent .lklo

Referring to the accompanying draWi-ngsweli have herein illustrated the improved apparatus as comprising :a flume member 10 for receiving. the dredge material, as discharged from an-zine take connection :l.-| which :COIldllQtS said mates rial from the source :of supply under-the dredge; or working pressure of :the dredge ipumping equipment. :The -fiume member 10 :is :mounted in overhead relation :to a series of Washing'iand classifying units, where said dredge material;

discharged into .a series .of hopper units l2' co responding to the several grades or class tions ,for which the apparatus is designed. cordingly eachof the hopper units I2 isarr to discharge through an opening I into a lecti-ng:chamber H5 at :the lower end'of a-cy drical casing -lB-the said-construction, cori ipri ing .the flume member I 0 and hopper and 0 units, being all supported by means of su framework "indicated generally by the refe numeral 2 -0,-in Figures 1,;2and 4.

:Each of the cylindrical casing units valve stem or rod 128 extends upward .throu tubular guide .30 supported by radial brace ments 32 within the casing 18, and the upper end portion of each rod 28 is provided with .a float element-34 adjacent to the upper end of the units M, .where the upper ,endof each valv ro or stem is :pivotally connected .with a roe levers 36 are fulcrumed, as indicated at 38, upon the framework 29, and at their outer ends are provided with cable operating connections 49 to suitable winch devices 42 located on a lower platform structure 44 also supported by the framework 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. By means of these connections to the valves 26 the latter may be conveniently regulated manually for properly setting and holding of said valves in either closed or various partially open positions with reference to the discharge openings 24, as represented in Figure 4. It will be noted that each valve has a maximum open position as limited by the engagement of the corresponding float 34 with the upper end of the tubular member 30.

Each of the casing units I8 is further provided with a drain outlet pipe 46 having an inlet opening 48 at approximately the level of the lowermost position of the corresponding float element 34,.for afiording a drainage action from the collecting chambers I6 as required for the floatcontrol operation of the valves as hereinafter explained. The lower or outlet ends of the sev eral drain tubes 46 are positioned for discharging into a common discharge flume or trough 50 extending alongside all the units of the installation, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The material or output from the several collecting chambers I6 is adapted to be discharged into tiltable hopper members 52, each of which is supported by a rocking axle 53 provided with a manually operable arm 54, whereby the hoppers may be rocked into either of two positions, 1. e., for dumping the contents thereof into a common receiving trough 55 supported by the framework 20, or into a discharge chute 56 mounted upon said trough 55 in position for receiving the material from the corresponding hopper 52 and conducting said material over into the discharge flume or trough 59-see Figures 3 and 5. The trough 55 is constructed to provide inclined portions converging to a common discharge point where it empties into a downwardly projecting chute 58 carrying a hinged delivery spout 6B for conveying the output to a suitable carrieras is common to such apparatus, a cord 62 operating over a guide pulley 63 and carrying a counterbalance weight 64 being provided for maintaining said spout 60 normally in raised and inoperative position.

At its intake or receiving end, the flume member I is provided with a bafile device 65 spaced from the bottom of the flume or trough II}, as indicated at 65, from which point the bottom of the fiume is constructed to conduct the material in a slightly downward course, corresponding to the consecutively lowered positions of the series of hopper units I2, as represented in Figure 1; and each of the openings I i into said hopper units is provided with a suitable screen panel 66 for screening the dredge material and allowing passage of only such graded particles of the sand material as is desired to be collected in the several sand collecting chambers It.

At its outlet end the fiume or trough member I0 is further provided with a screen and panel structure for the final separation and retrieving of the coarser gravel particles from the flow of dredge material. This construction comprises a collecting chamber 68 underlying the final screen panel 65 of the iiume bottom and provided with a baiile device '10 separating said chamber from an inclined screening chamber 12 communicating with and discharging into a gravel collecting chamber I4 located in a vertical spout struc- 4 ture 16 through which the discharge or waste flow of material is conducted from the discharge end of the fiume or trough I0 to the upper end of the flume or trough 5flas represented in Figures 1, 4 and 6.

The screening chamber 12 is formed by an inclined panel I8 extending from the top of the collecting chamber 68 to the outer side of the chamber I4, and a suitable screen panel extending in spaced relation to said panel I8 and from the bottom of said chamber 68 to the inner side of the chamber 14 as well as in slightly spaced relation to the lower edge of the baffle device l'0see Figures 1 and 6. The bafile member i8 is movably mounted as shown, to permit access to the interior of the screening chamber I2, when necessary, as for mounting or replacement of the screen 80; and a suitable discharge spout 82 is provided at the lower or outlet end of the collecting chamber 14.

The framework or supporting structure also includes the usual ladder means 84 for use by workmen and enabling them to reach the various difierent levels of the apparatus, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4.

In my prior patent, above referred to, the sand washing and classifying apparatus employed a float-controlled valve construction which regulated the flow of sand material through a collecting chamber which surrounded the valve-operating means, thus requiring a collecting chamber of such proportions as to incorporate the valve-control assembly as the interior or central core structure of the complete washing and classifying unit, and including an overflow or discharge connec tion from the float chamber to the waste trough or outlet. The present improved construction is designed to incorporate all the requisite control features of the valve float control assembly in separate relation to the sand collecting chamber, so that the size or proportions of the latter may be determined independently of the operational requirements of the valve control means and the latter left free and accessible for any service or maintenance requirements as may arise in the operation of the equipment. The valve control operation remains substantially the same as in my prior construction; the purpose being to maintain a normal and substantial flow of solid, sand material from the hopper chamber I2 through the opening I4 into the collecting chamber I6 and out past the valve 26, for which purpose the sand flow must be sufiicient to practically exclude any accumulation of water in said chamber beyond the drainage capacity of the outlet 48 to the overflow pipe 45. When the solid content of the sand flow diminishes to such an extent that the water content entering through the upper portion of the opening I4 into the chamber I6 exceeds the drainage overflow therefrom, the continuation of such diminished sand flow will result in enough water entering said chamber to lift the float 34 and thereby close the discharge valve 26 until an increase in the sand or solid content of the flow serves again to reduce the amount of water passing through opening I4 to the point where the drainage action from the chamber I6 will permit lowering of the float member to reopen the valve, So that a full normal flow of the sand material will be resumed. This control operation continues until a, balanced flow condition is attained, so that the discharge flow of the material from said chamber I6 through its outlet 24 becomes practically continuous and uniform. In other words, the float control operation iscra character ser ving as a compensatingfactor rcr acccmmcdaurig tne of the materia into theunit and regulating such flow in such a way as =to result in a substantially continuous and uniform flow at the discharge point of each gradingoutlet frcmithe several valve-controllediunits of the installation.

The arrangement of the several grading units of th'e' ihstallation in discharge relation to a common discharge-numerictrcughand providing same with individual hopper discharge means for separately controlling the discharge -oT the output from the several grading units enables the operator to regulate and selectivel control the relative percentages or fractions of the graded contents for any particular or special run of the material to be delivered by the apparatus accordto any given requirements or specifications.

The grading or classifying construction provided at the tail end of the ilume member ID is designed as a further refinement of the construction for retrieving the coarser gravel particles of the material flow, and as a by-product in connection with the waste flow of the material, after separation of the relatively finer sand content of the dredge flow. This is accomplished by an extension of the screening operation of the dredge flow and an effective separation of the said gravel portion of the material, by the means or structure provided and illustrated herein, prior to the final discharge of the waste flow into the flume or trough 50, and thus constitutes a valuable adjunct to the primary purposes and functions of the main or primary classification equipment as herein outlined.

The apparatus as shown further preserves all the important advantages characterizing my prior equipment, including a construction which requires very little head room-being initially under the pressure as delivered from the dredge pumping apparatus, and the resultant or final operation of the installation provides for a complete removal of all undesired waste or refuse matter from the flow of the original dredge stream.

While the foregoing represents one practical and efficient form of construction for embodying the proposed features of improvement as required for accomplishing the desired objects of my invention, it is apparent that the construction illustrated is susceptible of various minor changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of my said improvements, and I therefore wish to be understood as reserving the right to make whatever changes or variations may fall within the scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Sand cleaning and classifying apparatus comprising a flume for the flow of dredge material, a material receiving hopper chamber underlying said flume and separated therefrom by a screening means intercepting the flow of material entering said chamber, a separate flow-controlling chamber in exterior and side by side relation to said hopper chamber and provided with a discharge outlet for regulating the flow of said material from said secod chamber and also having a material-receiving opening communicating with the lower end of said hopper chamber, and a valve controlling the flow through said discharge outlet and provided with float-control means located above said material-receiving opening and actuated in accordance with the liq- 6'' did level :of the contents within said i'flow 'controlling chamber.

2. Sand cleaning and classifying apparatus comprising a. flum'e for the flow or dredge material, a material receiving hopper chamber under l-y in'g said flume and separated therefrom 'by a sc'reen-ing means intercepting the flow of material enter ing said chamber, a separate flowcon'trolling c'hamber in exterior and side by side relation to said hopper chamber and provided with a discharge-outlet for said material and also having a material-receiving opening communicating with the lower end of said hopper chamber, and a valve controlling the flow through said outlet and provided with a float member located above said material-receiving opening and controlling the movement of said valve in accordance with the liquid level of the contents within said second chamber, said flow-controlling chamber having a drainage outlet at the lower limit of movement of said float member.

3. Sand cleaning and classifying apparatus comprising a fiume for the flow of dredge material, a material receiving hopper chamber underlying said flume and separated therefrom by a screening means intercepting the flow of material entering said chamber, a separate flow-controlling chamber in exterior and side by side relation to said hopper chamber and provided with a, discharge outlet for said material and also having a material-receiving opening communicating with the lower end of said hopper chamber, a valve controlling the flow through said outlet and provided with a float member located above said material-receiving opening and controlling the movement of said valve in accordance with the liquid level of the contents within said float-controlling chamber, and means limiting the movement of said float member in accordance with the fully-open and fully-closed positions of said valve, said flow-controlling chamber having a drainage outlet at the lower limit of movement 0 said float member.

4. Sand cleaning and classifying apparatus comprising a flume for the flow of dredge material, a plurality of material receiving hopper chambers underlying said flume and separated therefrom by screening means intercepting the flow of material entering said chambers, separate flow-controlling chambers in exterior and side by side relation to said hopper chambers and provided with discharge outlets for regulating the flow of material therethrough and also with material-receiving openings communicating with the lower ends of the respective hopper chambers, valves for controlling the flow through the respective discharge outlets and provided with float-control means actuated in accordance with the liquid levels of the contents within said flowcontrolling chambers and including float members located above the corresponding materialreceiving openings, and conduit means in receiving relation to said discharge outlets from said flow-controlling chambers and provided with means for selectively receiving the material as discharged from the several flow-controlling chambers.

5. Sand screening and classifying apparatus comprising a fiume for the flow of dredge material, means providing a hopper chamber underlying said fiume and separated therefrom by screening means intercepting the flow of material from said flume into the hopper chamber, a casing adjoining said hoppr chamber in side by side relationship thereto and providing a float chamber in the upper portion of said casing and also a material-collecting chamber in its bottom portion having a material-receiving opening communicating with the lower end of said hopper chamber, the bottom of said material-collecting chamber having a discharge opening provided with a valve regulating the flow therethrough, and a float member mounted within said float chamber above said material-receiving opening and connected with said valve for controlling the movement thereof in accordance with the liquid level of the contents within said float chamber and the latter having a liquid discharge outlet at the lower limit of movement of said float member.

LEROY F. BUSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 1,650,239 Schmidt et a1 Nov. 22, 1927 2,337,446 Bush Dec. 21, 1943 2,352,972 Remick "in. July 4, 194* 

